Oscillating fan



Dec. 19, 1939. T. H. TORNBERG oscILLATING FAN Filed June 19, 1957 s sheets-sheet 1 T'TORNEY 19, 1939.'v T H, TORNBERG v 2,183,09`79 OSCILLATING FAN Filed June 19, -1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Patented Dec. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES OSCILLATING FAN Torsten H. Tornberg, Springfield, Mass., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporationof Pennsylvania Application June 19, 1937, Serial No. 149,142l 6 Claims. (Cl. 23o-256) My invention relates to oscillating fans and more particularly to the mounting of fan guards and of the fan upon a support member.

It is an object of my invention to provide a fan structure which will'permit a fan incorporated therein to be satisfactorily used interchangeably as a desk fan or as a wall fan.

A further object of my invention is to provide a removable cover which will enclose the fan oscillating mechanism and will act as a support for the fan guard.

A further object of my invention is to provide guard arms which will support the fan guard and hold a cover over the oscillating mechanism.

A further object of my invention is to provide a fan supporting structure which will limit the amount of vertical swinging motion of the fan thereupon and will guarantee the proper assembly of the fan upon such structure.

A further object of my invention is to provide a swivel housing and clutch plate which can be assembled in only one manner and which will permit the fan to be assembled with the supporting member in various positions.

Other objects of my invention will either be pointed out specifically in the course of the .following description of a device embodying my invention, or will be apparent from such descrip tion.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a device embodying my invention, the fan parts being arranged so as to adapt the fan for desk or table use;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line II-II of Fig. l, with a portion of the cover removed from the device embodying my invention;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the device shown in Fig. l.

. Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are cross-sectional views taken along the lines IV-IV and V-V, respectively, of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a View, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the arrangement of fan parts when adapted for use as a wall fan.

Referring to the accompanying drawings. I show a fan structure I I comprising a motor I2, a fan I3, a fan guard I4, guard arms I5. an oscillating mechanism I6 operatively associated with the motor I2 and fan I3, a swivel mechanism I8 and a stand I9 for supporting the swivel mechanism I8 about which the oscillating mechanism I6 oscillate's the motor I2 and fan I3.

The motor I2 comprises a housing 20, stator laminations 2l with stator coils 22 wound therein,

and a rotor 21 comprising a laminated core 23 and a shaft 24. One end 25 of the shaft 24 is operatively associated with the oscillating mechanism I6 while the other end 26 of shaft 24 is 5 operatively associated with the fan i3. K

The fan I3 comprises a plurality of blades 30 which may be of any shape desired and may be rigidly attached to a collar 3l in any suitable manner. The fan blades 30 and collar 3| are 10 then rigidly attached to the extended shaft portion 26 of rotor 21 by means of a set screw 32 located within the sleeve 3l.

The fan guard I4 comprises a plurality of Wire guard rings 35, the planes of which are substan- 15 tially normal to the axis of the rotor 21, and a plurality of radial guard wires 36, the planes of which are substantially normal to the planes of the guard rings, attached at one end to the center escutcheon plate 38 and at the other end to 20 either a guard ring 35, as shown at 39, or to a guard arm I5.

The guard arms I5 are preferably of an irregular curved channel shape substantially as shown in Fig'. 3, being substantially wider at the' base 25 than vat the upper or outer end. The guard arm I5 has a back portion 4I) and a plurality of side portions 4I. An aperture 42 is located within the back portion 40 near the top or outer ,end of the guard arm I5. A bolt 43 is located between 30 the side portions 4I at a point slightly farther from the base than a pin 44, which is likewise located between the side portions 4I, substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The oscillating mechanism I5 operatively asso 35 ciated with the end 25 of the rotor shaft 24 comprises a plurality of suitable gears 45 which are capable of changing the horizontal rotational energy transmitted thereto by rotor 21 to the ver-v tical rotational energy transmitted therefrom by 40 a suitable clutch 41 and gears 48. See Fig. 5. A shoulder screw 49 operatively associated with gear 48 eccentrically mounts a connecting rod 5D to the gear 48, whereby the rotational energy of said gear 48 is converted to reciprocating 45 oscillating energy. As shown in Figs.. 1 and 4, the connecting rod 50 is pivotally connected to a stationary block 5I that is disposed between the motor housing 20 and a. swivelled'support 65, the latter defining a part of the swivel mecha- 50 nism I8. Accordingly, the motor I2, fan i3 and oscillating mechanism I6 will oscillate because of the oscillating action imparted to the connccting rod 50 by the gear 48.

The cover I1 is preferably substantially cup- 55 housing I1 may be removed without disturbing.

shaped with an irregular protruding portion 60 extending from the rear portion thereof substantially as shown in Figs. l and 3. A plurality of Ventilating apertures 55 are located Within the protruding portion 60 and Within the main.cover portion I1 to permit adequate circulation of air through the oscillating mechanism I6 and motor I2. A plurality of shoulder portions 56, or a continuous shoulder portion 56 is located approximately at the midpoint of the cover I 1 and on the inside thereof substantially as shown in Fig. 1. A plurality of foot portions 51 is located about the open end of the cover I1 substantially as shown. A drip pan 58 is attached to the cover I1 by rivets 59 and is located upon the inner portions of said cover at positions substantially below the oscillating mechanism I6 to collect any oil which may leak therefrom.

The swivel mechanism I8 comprises the swivelled support 65, a swivel pin 66 and a clutch plate 61, which has a projecting hub 61a operativcly asszciated therewith. The swivel pin 66 is operatively associated with the swivelled support 65 and has a ball bearing 1I operatively associated therewith near the upper end thereof and with the support 65.

The stand I9 comprises a foot -portion 16 having a toe portion 11 and a neck portion 18 having a forked portion located at the upper end thereof. The fork comprises a plurality of tines 19 and 80. An aperture 8| is located in the center portion of tine 8D, in which the projecting hub 61a. of the clutch plate 61 operates.

The guard arms I are rigidly attached to the motor housing 26 in any suitable manner, it being preferred that a through bolt 28 be inserted through the housing 28 and the guard arm I5, whereupon a nut 29 attaches such guard arm thereto. A washer 6I is inserted `under the head 33 of the through bolt 28 upon which the shoulder portion 5B of the cover I1 rests. inserted through the foot portion 51 of the cover I1 and through the base portion 4I) of the guard arm I5 and has placed thereon a nut 62 which,

f' upon being tightened against the guard arm I5,

will draw the shoulder portion 56 of the cover I1 tightly against the washer 6I and give added support to the guard arms I5, preventing such guard arms from rotating about the through bolt 28. It is, therefore, obvious that guard arm I5 supports cover I1 against washer 6I and conversely cover I1 supports or prevents the guard arm I5 from rotating about the through bolt 28 and accordingly supports such guard arm. It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the the guard by removing the screws 63. -Accordingly, access to the oscillating mechanism I6 is readily effected.

By having the guard wires 36 which come in contact with the guard arm I5 extended in length with a curved hook portion 31 upon the end thereof, such hook portion 31 may be inserted about the upper back portion 45 around the bolt 43 against pin 44; as shown. With the guard Wire 3S in such position, the nut 34, locatedupon bolt 43. is tightened against the side walls 4I of the guard arm I5 to rigidly support said fan guard I4. It is obvious that by attaching the guard I4 as hereinabove'described with the hooked portion 31 of guard wire 36 around the bolt 43, the upper portion 45 of the guard arm I5 acts as a fulcrum about which the guard I4 is biased-due to the spring action of the guard wire 36, while being held in a permanent position by bolt 43 and pin A bolt 63 is then 44. It is, therefore, obvious that with such a connection between the guard arm I5 and the fan guard I4, such fan guard might be removed from the guard arm I5 by merely removing the bolt 43 from the guard arm I5, and that upon being relocated upon the guard arm I5, such fan guard I4 will hold rigidly thereto, as well as acting as an additional means for preventing the guard arms from rotating about the through bolt 28.

The swivelled support 65 may be of die cast construction and has a substantially vertical aperture 13 located therein. A swivel pin 66 is then operatively associated with the support 65 by being inserted Within the aperture 13. l The swivel pin 66 is rigidly attached to the motor housing 20 at the'upper end by means of a cap screw 12, and has the ball bearing structure 1I operatively associated intermediate the ends thereof and with the upper end of the support 65. In such a manner, it is obvious that since the motor I2 is rigidly attached to the swivel pin, which in turn is rotatably mounted within the support 65, the motor I2 is rotatably mounted upon the support and operatively associated stand I9.

The support 65 also has a substantially horizontal aperature therethrough located substantially at right angles to aperture 13 and slightly displaced therefrom for admitting the wing screw 68. The support 65 is inserted Within the fork tines 19 and 8U adjacent to clutch plate 61, having hub 61a fitting within aperture 8| in tine 80, whereupon the wing screw 68 is inserted through tine19, support 65 and clutch plate 61 and rigidly connects such support to the stand or supporting base I9. periphery of the support 65 in a position substantially as shown in Fig. l. A stop pin is operatively associated with the clutch plate 61 and the tines 19 and 80 in such a manner that the clutch plate 61 will rotate about the wing screw 68 but a limited amount. The .slot 69 within the support 65 is then located about the stop pin 19in such a manner that as the support is swung vertically about the wing screw 68 as an axis. such slot will, upon encountering the stop pin, limit the support swinging about the wing screw. It is, therefore, obvious that the motor I2, operatively associated fan I3, and oscillating mechanism I6 are rotatably mounted on the base I9 by means of swivel pin 66, and simultaneously f swingably mounted thereon by means of support 65 swinging about the wing screw 68 as an axis though such swinging action islmited by the stop pin 10.

By having the stop pin 10 operatively associated with the base I9 and the clutch plate 61. it is assured that the support 65 and `clutch plate 61 will be assembled in their proper relation regardless of the exact angular position of the support 65 in relation to the stand I9. Likewise, the support 65, due to the aperture 69 located wi'thin the support 65, can swing substantially 45, depending upon the size of the aperture 69, regardless of the exact position of such support with respect to the base I9.

` The support 65 may be inserted upon the neck portion 18 or base I9 substantially as shown, or may be removed therefrom, reversed in direction, and rotated substantially 90, whereupon such support -may be reassembled with the base I9, as shown in Fig. 6. With ,the support located upon the base I9 in such a manner, the base may be mounted upon a wall with the toe portion A slot 69 is cut in` a portion of the 11 thereof at the top. The fan structure Il will then operate as an oscillating wall fan. How'- ever, with the structure arranged substantially as shown in Fig. f, the fan may be operated as a table fan. It is, therefore, obvious that a fan having my present invention embodied therewith may operate satisfactorily either as an oscillating wall fan or as an oscillating table fan.

It isto be understood that the electrical connections to the fan structure II may be made in any manner desired, though it is preferred that f the power leads, be inserted within the base I9 Vwhere suitable condensers and resistors are/located, and that lead 83 be connected between the base I9 and the motor 20 in any suitable manner. In operating a device embodying my present invention as hereinabove described, the plug 85Y is connected to a suitable power supply, not shown, and a suitable switch 84 operatively associated therewith is turned to an on position, whereupon motor I2 is energized. As rotor 21 of motor I2 rotates, Ithe fan I3 and oscillating mechanism I6 operatively associated therewith are likewise rotated. As the oscillating mechamsm I6 is rotated by rotor 21, the gear 4B and 'crank 50 are likewise rotated and oscillated respectively, causing the motor I2 and=operatively associated. cover I1 and fan I3 to oscillate about the swivel pin 66, whereby the fan operates in the normal oscillating manner.

However, should it be desired to have the 4ian structure II operate as a wall fan, the motor structure I2 and operatively associated oscillating mechanism I6, ian I3 and sllpport 65 arey removed from the base or supporting mechanism I9, whereupon such base is attached to the wall.

it being preferred that the toe portion 11 of the base 66 be mounted in the upper position. The

fan structure is then re-mounted upon the supporting structure I9 in reversed and rotated manner as hereinabove described, so that the axis of fan guard portion I4 will be substantially normal to the wall and the swivel pin 66 substantially,

parallel thereto, as shown in Fig. 6. It is thus obvious 'that the fan structure II will oscillate about thefpivot pin 66 in a manner common to wall `fans now known to the art. Likewise, it' is obvious that such fan structure will be swingably mounted about-the wing screw 68, permitting such structure to be located in any desired vertical angular position, as hereinabove described.

It will thus be seen that the fan structure hereinabove described may be satisfactorily used interchangeably as a desk fan or as a wall fan and that such structure may bevertically inclined to any position desired. Likewise, it is obvious that dueto the action of the clutch plate and the stop pin that it is impossible to reassemble the fan structure upon the base in an improper manner.

It is further obvious that with the cover and guard structure as hereinabove described, such plate.

cover and guard supports will supoprt each other in relation to the motor housing as well as supporting the fan guard in the proper relation to the fan.

Various modications may be made in the device embodying my invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and I desire that' only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim`as my invention: 1

1. A fan comprising a driving motor, means operatively associated with the driving motor for oscillating said motor, a plurality of .guard arms, means for attaching said guard arms to the motor, a cover for the oscillating means and means for removably attaching said cover to said guard arms.

2..A fan comprising a driving motor, means operatively associated with the driving motor for oscillating said motor, a plurality of guard arms, a plurality of washers, means for attaching said guard arms at one end. of the motor and for attaching said washers at the other end of the motor, a cover, and means comprising said guard arms for holding said cover in place against said washers and o'ver said oscillating means.

3. A fan comprising a plurality of fan blades,

a driving motor having a removable cover there-l on, a plurality of guard arms, means for attaching said guard arms to said motor, means for supporting said cover from the guard armsand a fan guard removably attached to said guard alms;

4. A fan comprising a plurality of fan blades, a driving motorV operatively associated with said fan blades, meansv operatively associated with the driving motor for oscillating said motor, a removable cover placed over at least a portion of said motor and oscillating means therefor, a plurality of irregular curved channel shaped guard arms carried by said motor, means for removably attaching said cover to the guard arms and a fa'n guard comprising a plurality of radial wires the opening in said one of the tines, and a binding screw extending through the openings in said other tine and support and threaded in the clutch 6. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein said support .includes an arcuate opening in a portion thereof and a pin carried by one of said tines and extending into said arcuate openi118.

' l 'IIORSTEN H. TORNBERG. 

